Since we’ve yet to get an announcement on who has made this pitching staff heading into opening day, I thought I’d share my opinion just in case Jim Hendry is looking for some advice.

Starting Rotation

1. Ryan Dempster – I don’t consider him the best pitcher on the staff, but he’s earned the spot more than any other choice over the last few years. He gets the top spot just due to consistency, not due to his ceiling.

2. Matt Garza – This guy has the best stuff on the staff and will be the best pitcher this season. Don’t worry about what we’ve seen this spring. He was throwing fastballs the majority of the time.

3. Carlos Zambrano – I want to believe he’ll be better this year. I really do. Deep down inside, I want to like Zambrano. Please, Z, just show me something this year.

4. Randy Wells – Came ready to pitch this spring and earned his spot. He’s got to rebound from last year’s sophomore slump.

5. Carlos Silva – This one will probably spark some disagreement from you guys, but I believe in Silva. Let’s not forget that from opening day through July 6 of last year, Silva posted an 11-5 record with an ERA of 2.96. That would be outstanding for a # 5 starter.

Bullpen

This is where things get shaky. I’d feel a little more comfortable with some baseball favorites courtesy of BetUS. Instead, here is how I’d arrange my pen.

1. Jeff Samardzija – He’s out of minor league options so he has to make this team or be placed on waivers.

2. John Grabow – I think 2010 was a fluke for him. He’s been a good reliever in his career. If he really is healthy, you have to give him the first shot over James Russell.

3. Marcos Mateo – This guy is not getting any talk and I can’t figure out why. He’s had a good, albiet limited, spring training and I think he deserves a spot.

4. Sean Marshall – He’s the number one lefty in this pen and I wish he’d get a chance to start. Sadly, I think those chances have come and gone for Sean.

5. Andrew Cashner – I believe in his stuff, but not his endurance. Because of that, I groom him to be a closer and hope I can one day trade Marmol in his prime.

6. Kerry Wood – Primary setup man for Marmol.

7. Carlos Marmol – Closer and owner of the best stuff in the pen. Because we have guys like Cashner and Wood in the pen as well, I’d like to see Marmol used in non end of the game situations as well if the situation warrants.

Joe Aiello is the founder of View From the Bleachers and one of the lead writers. Growing up in Chicago, he fondly remembers attending games in the bleachers before that was the popular thing to do. Currently Joe resides in North Carolina with his wife and three kids and helps people protect their assets as an independent insurance agent.
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I like your choices, but I think you have to try Cashner in the rotation…the upside is just too high to waste in the pen. Silva could work as a long man/spot starter out of the pen because as he showed last year, he will break down in the second half if used as a starter.

Chuck

With the money that Silva is making, he will be given every oppourtunity to lose the #5 spot. If/when he loses it I think that Cashner gets a shot at it. If Silva does do well as the #5 he then can be traded to someone desperate for pitching.

Aaron

I’m with Chuck. And yes, I know that just yesterday I posted that Silva should be dumped, a la the Mets’ Oliver Perez. On the other hand, Silva did pitch well yesterday – 1 run on 3 hits over 6 innings, plus he retired 17 of the last 18 batters he faced. Because of Hendry’s ego and Silva’s contract, Silva probably would have gotten the 5th spot anyway, but yesterday’s outing provides at least a slight glimmer of hope.

Buddy

I have no problem with Silva starting the year as the 5th starter, but I’m rooting for Cashner. Mateo doesn’t do much for me, but you never know.

chet

I have this feeling that we will find out (probably not anytime soon) that Cashner is best suited as a closer or setup guy. He excelled at this in college and I feel as though we are trying to fit a square peg in a round hole by making him a starter. Closing seems more natural for him. He may be a starter yet, just saying….

chris in Illinois

I don’t care what anyone does in spring against a mix of MLB/AAA/AA/A players, it’s irrelevant to me…I love the idea of Cashner in the #5 hole, but I can also see the advantage of a short-term Silva-in-the-spot in order to manage Cashner’s innings. I’m not sure Andy’s up to throwing 200+ this year…I’ve never seen Mateo pitch, but it’s sort of besides the point as I see Mr. McNutt claiming a bullpen spot July and a rotation job in 2012 anyway….

Dennis

Maybe Silva is a better than Cashner right now for a rotation spot. Perhaps Cashner is a better right handed reliever than Samartzija at this time. Forget saleries and worrying about next year and leave camp with the best team.

Chuck

I answered the question from the standpoint of what will happen versus what should happen. Ideally, you have the best guys in spots they can handle and things like service time, contract size, ego and such don’t matter. But in the real world things like that do matter.

Chet

That’s my problem with this team right now Dennis, I don’t feel like they are trying to leave camp with the best team. I think they are trying to leave camp with the most expensive players in starting rolls to justify the contracts.

http://www.pepicellis.com Tom C

I am hoping with his latest performance, the Yankees trade for Batman and that will be end of him. Remember, you older folks, the Yankees have done this b4. Remember in 1987 when Steve Trout threw 2 CG shutouts in a row? The Yanks traded for him! He then proceeded to pitch to an 0-4 6+ERA for the Yanks, even crappier for Seattle and then was down at age 31.
(We did, however, get Tewksbury in the trade and that was a whole ‘nother nightmare…)

mrbaseball2usa

I gotta put Cash-Money in the starters spot, and let the Yankees pick up Batman’s salary for us to free up a reliever spot. I think we’ll need it ’cause I just don’t see Samardzija panning out.

Buddy

The one undeserving player who will likely go north is Samardzija, for the reasons Joe pointed our earlier. I think that problem will resolve itself soon. As far as Mateo vs. Coleman vs. Russell vs. whoever, what’s the difference really? They’re all below league-average relievers who will pitch from the back end of the bullpen. I doubt the Cubs fortunes will be decided by this mystery pitcher.

Buddy

I meant “out” not “our.” Sorry.

Deezer

I agree with all of these except for Samardzija, except I understand that (although don’t buy it). I like Grabow, personally, and am willing to think that last year was a fluke given what I’ve seen of him in the past (a friend of mine is a pirates fan, so I followed him there to). Not saying he’s lights-out, but I like him over Russell

I’m ready to cut ties with Samardzija. I’m excited about our starting rotation (assuming Z really is back and Wells rebounds from the soph slump) but still have low expectations for our run production. But maybe my low expectations will translate to surprising success. Yep, I’m a Cubs fan.

chris in Illinois

.391!? Jeez, Doc did Pena poison your dog or something??

starlin fan

No chris, just keeping track of a wager of Buddy and mine. I got Pena slugging below .500 for the season and Buddy has Pena slugging above .500. Of course spring training stats don’t count, just keeping an eye on it. Pena = .391 slugging = $10M = horrible deal = dead horse.

Buddy

I have Pena slugging .500 or above, not just above .500. So if he hits it dead on, I win! Woo hoooo!

Doc Raker

That’s right Buddy, you have .500 or above and your still going to lose. Do you want to change my winnings to the charity of my choice or do you still want to buy me a jersey?

chris in Illinois

.391!!!! Holy Disaster Batman, 54 spring AB’s count?

chris in Illinois

I’ll throw an extra $20 if Pena doesn’t slug .500 on top of Buddy’s deal…not looking for anything in return…

Buddy

I like the jersey idea.

Scotter

Silva’s gone, and I’m happy about that. He seemed like a potential clubhouse cancer, in addition to not having #5 stuff. Cashner showed some moxie after a rough 1st inning Saturday. He should develop nicely as the 5th guy.

I think the pen looks solid, top to bottom. Give Samardzija a chance. Who would rather have- Justin Berg, the human BP machine? With Wood and Maddux mentoring him I think he’ll be up for the challenge to prove they didn’t waste their money.
Grabow’s got something to prove too, but he may be the weak link in the bunch.